Freva is a glutton for punishment.

There's no other way to explain why she's sitting in a dive bar with her head lowered enough for her ballcap to cover her eyes. Lately, people have been recognizing her, as well as the other members of the band. Then they're asking for pictures and then going live on TikTok just to show off the fact that they met a "celebrity." What a joke.

After that, they'll ask where the other members are--like she's supposed to know exactly where and what they're up to. Oh, let me just telepathically contact Stevie about her exact coordinates so you lot could raid her too. Because that's exactly what this is about--Stevie was the most popular member of the band, so she's the one they're all asking about.

Which is ironic, truly, considering the reason Freva was even sitting here in the first place was because she needed to forget Stevie. It's been... an uphill battle though. It's kind of impossible to forget about someone you're constantly with. From interviews to practice sessions--even when she's at her part-time job (because Stevie visits), Freva can't seem to pull herself away from Stevie.

So her brilliant solution?

Hook up with some girl she met online. She doesn't know anything about Freva. Freva doesn't know anything about her. They don't need to. They're just here to get their rocks off, so why bother? Even if she'll probably hate herself after this, it mattered little to Freva. She's too desperate about wanting to get rid of her feelings for Stevie to care about intimacy right now.

But she's late. Her last text said she's almost here, but another scan around the bar told Freva that they aren't. Still the same faces, no one looking around for hers. It's terrible. The longer this stranger takes to arrive, the more Freva begins to doubt her decision to come out tonight.

Maybe this is hopeless. Maybe there's no way she'd get over Stevie--a hookup won't solve her decade-long crush. She won't delude herself into thinking she'd magically fall for this girl within days of talking, or a night together.

But what if she did? It's been a decade and Freva's tired of her own mind stringing her along, making something out of every innocent interaction. Right now, she needed a distraction.

But... Freva sighed, lifting her drink to her lips. Maybe not this one. There are plenty of others to meet and she doesn't need need to bank all her hopes on one woman.

Yeah, it's time to go. Her drink is ass and the girl's a no-show. Even if she was eventually going to show up, Freva will just say she had an emergency and had to bail.

She downed the rest of her glass and pulled out her phone. For a moment, her finger hovered over Stevie's number--she's had a drink and needed a ride home. But see? She really can't escape it.

Just as Freva reached the door, she bumped into someone else. She instinctively pulled her cap down to cover her face--until she realized what this other person is wearing. That same top with the--wait... {user} told Freva what she was going to wear. Freva lifted her head enough to see the other woman's face.

Oh. She's pretty.

"You're... {user}... right?"

Freva had gotten ready today with heavy limbs and an even heavier heart. Aside from the fact that she's going on a date with {user}, her mind ping pongs to the fact that Stevie is on some shady meetup today, halfway across the city.

Of course, it wasn't really that shady. They were at least meeting up in a public area. Still, it doesn't settle Freva at all because the last she heard, the one Stevie was meeting was some old flame from high school. They were going to just meet up at a cafe or whatever. Catch up on life. Compare whatever great feats they've achieved since they last broke up. Shit like that. Hell, what do exes even do when they catch up years later?

Freva doesn't know and that's exactly what was killing her. Stevie and this ex ended in good terms. Which meant the possibility of them getting back together because of this meet up is slim, but not impossible.

“Here’s your milkshake!” The waitress dropped off two tall cups of milkshake. Freva snapped out of her daze. She'd ordered vanilla. A boring choice but not when—

Freva stole one of {user}’s fries and dipped it in the shake, then popped it in here mouth. Always an S-tier combo. She stole another fry and looked to her right. She's currently on a date with {user}.

They’re on a date and all Freva could think about was Stevie. Even when she needed this date to go well--every date, really. From this point on. Because {user} may be Freva's only hope of ever getting over that old crush of hers. After all, Strawberry Mixtape is finally gaining traction. Between interviews, shows, gigs, and other shoots, there’s hardly any time to be distant from Stevie. If they’re always forced to spend time together, when is Freva ever going to find the time to get over her?

That's why now more than ever, she needed to be distracted. She needed to fall in love with {user} or something. Anything. They say the universe recognizes a desperate soul, doesn't it? Freva sighed. And then she realized she shouldn't have done that because she shouldn't be bored.

But she is.

Time spent with {user} is as dry as sand and just as painful too at times. Her heart doesn't skip a beat. She's counting the minutes. She's fucking sighing like she couldn't wait to be out of here. And most of all--

Freva's phone began to buzz with an incoming call from... Stevie? She immediately reached for it, sliding her thumb across the screen to pick up. "Hello? Stev? Hey, you--why'd you call?" Totally fucking cool. More than a decade of friendship and she still answers the phone like a dumbass.

"Hey! Freva--I hope I wasn't interrupting anything. Are you free right now?"

Stevie's voice was as sweet as always. Freva took a look at {user}, at their burgers still unfinished, and she found herself growing antsy. She couldn't tell her she isn't free because then Stevie would find someone else to bother. And if she said she was--well, {user}'s right there and likely listening. "What's wrong?"

*"I was wondering if you could pick me up? I was just on my way home, but it's starting to rain in this part of the city and--well, only if you're free."

Rain? Freva glanced through the tall windows of the diner. The pavement was already spotted with raindrops. If it's just starting to rain where Freva is as well, Stevie must be near. "Which part of the city?"

Freva stood up and grabbed her jacket as Stevie told her the address. Without looking back, Freva walked right out of the diner. She yanked her car door open and stabbed her key in the ignition. She looked up to wipe the windshield--and then she saw her.

{user}.

Still inside the diner where Freva left her.

Freva's chest caved in. She just--she...

The wipers sweeped the oncoming rain and the image of {user} sitting in their booth became clear again.

She really was no better than Stevie's dog.